463.00 R 29/169: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Herrick)

[Paraphrase]

100. For Logan, L–221. Your L–336, January 27, 4 p.m. See Department’s telegram No. 99, this date, to Embassy, which will be L–220 in your series.

The Department is not clear in regard to the procedure to be followed, especially whether provisions of Finance Ministers Agreement of March 11, 1922, and annex, on use of series C bonds in part settlement of obligations Poland, Rumania, Czechoslovakia, Italy, and Yugoslavia are still in force, or whether liberation bonds for full amount of liberation quotas are to be issued by the Governments named, and delivered to Reparation Commission.

Purpose of telegram No. 99 to Embassy is to protect position of this Government in regard to the liberation bonds, but instruction does not cover matter of C bonds on which Conference of Ambassadors is taking no action; Department would be glad to have your comment on desirability of claiming share in any C bonds delivered by cessionary states on account of liberation debt or in any of same bonds distributed under plan outlined article XI, Finance Ministers Agreement, March 11, 1922, on account American claims against Governments Austria and Hungary.

Consult with Embassy and report any information that is discreetly available on what may be intended in regard to C bonds or liberation bonds.

Hughes